Collapsible camp chair



.Jan. 21, 1958' R; E. MORELAND ,509 -COLLAPSIBLE CAMP CHAIR Filed NOV.22, 1955- Robert E. More/and INVENTOR.

COLLAPSIBLE CAMP CHAIR Robert E. Moreland, Houston, Tex.

Application November 22, 1955, Serial No. 548,338

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-143) The present invention relates to an improvedcollapsible multipurpose chair which is readily portable and is hereindesignated as a camp chair, that is, a lightweight easyto-carry chairwhich lends itself to reliable and practical use for generalout-of-doors and similar occasional purposes, for instance, at all sortsof sporting events, at parades, exhibitions and similar festivities.

One object of the invention is to structurally, functionally andotherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performingportable-type camp chairs and, in so doing, to provide a chair in whichmanufacturers will find their manufacturing requirements satisfied andusers will find their out-of-doors purposes effectually met.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical andfeasible folding camp chair which is ingenious in that it is soconstructed that when it is lowered vertically toward the ground orother support surface and strikes the surface, the leg frames embodiedtherein automatically spread apart and open up and later on, when thechair is no longer in use and is lifted up from said surface, the legsof the respective leg frames collapse and nest together, whereby toprovide an unusually compact structure which may be transported by theuser from place to place.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the frames arecovered with canvas or equivalent material and provide a seat and a backrest. In addition, a loose hanging sling is provided and has its ends soarranged and attached to the respective upper portions of the respectiveframes that it serves not only as a flexible handle for lifting andlowering the chair but, what is more important, as a shoulder strapwhich facilitates suspending and carrying the chair in a most convenientand highly practical manner.

A further and highly important object of the invention resides inproviding the leg portions of the cooperating frames with a highly novelhinge, that is, a hinge which is precision made and precisely installed,is sensitive, is substantially wear-resisting and weatherproof andfunctions with maximum efliciency so that the lifting and lowering thechair by way of the shoulder strap renders the legs automaticallyopenable and closable.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved camp chair showing itsconstruction and the manner in which the sling is used for suspendingand carrying the chair from place to place;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view illustrating how the sling may beused for lifting and lowering the chair and how the legs of therespective frames separate or fold together as the case may be;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the chair erected or set up foruse;

Figure 4 is a section on the vertical line 44 of Figure 3 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 4;and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the details.

Referring now to the drawing with the aid of reference numerals and toassist in distinguishing the principal parts, the relatively long frame,which is generally rectangular, is denoted by the numeral 8 and isherein designated as a first frame. The other shorter frame is denotedas the second frame as at 10.

in practice these frames are preferably, but not necessarily,constructed of basswood which lends itself admirably well to thepurposes intended in that it is light in weight and exceedingly strongand durable. The longitudinal rails of the first frame 8 are connectedtogether by an upper cross-piece 12 (Fig. 4), an intermediatecross-piece 14 and a lower cross-piece or brace 16. The upper portionsof these frame members or rails are denoted at 18 and have a piece ofcanvas or the like fastened thereto to define a back-rest. On the rearside these upper portions are provided with a second shorter piece ofcanvas or the like 22 which in conjunction with the cross member 14provides a carrying pocket 24 for miscellaneous articles. The lowerportions, below the hinge means to be described, constitute relativelyshort so-ealled front legs 26. The frame 10 embodies vertical orlengthwise side members or rails connected at their lower ends by across-brace 23. There is a similar cross member 3i} connecting the uppermitered ends. This cross-piece cooperates with a companion cross-piece32 and these parts 3i) and 32 serve to accommodate the canvas orequivalent seat 34, with the ends 36 and 38 attached in. any suitablemanner. It is, of course, important that the seat be below thecross-piece 14 to avoid interference with the opening and closing of theframes 8 and 10'. Although of no particular importance the inner orinward surfaces of the frame members are rabbeted as at 40 for lightnessin weight. The portions of the frame members which cross, however, aresolid and of uniform cross-section, as seen in Fig. 6. It will be noted,of course, that the lower portions 42 of frame 10 constitute the rearlegs while the upper portions 44 provide the seat support.

Also and this is important, the legs 42 are appreciably.

Furthermore, the respectivelonger than the legs 26. paired legs arehinged and fastened together so that their adjacent inward surfaces arein spaced parallelism and do not collide when the frames are opened orclosed. The intermediate portions of the frame members are crossed sothat the upper ends of the respective legs 26 and 42 are thought of asterminating at the location of the hinges. The hinge means on each sideis the same and a description of one will suffice for both and withreference to Figure 6 it will be seen that the adjacent surfaces of theinner and outer legs are recessed as at 46 and that opposed alignedwashers 48 are seated in the recesses and are fastened by screws or thelike 50. The contacting surfaces of the washers are precision finishedto assist in providing a smooth operating articulated joint. The washersconstitute bearings and the bearings serve to accommodate the hingepintle or journal 52. This is preferably a precision finished hollowcylinder. The intermediate portion is seated in the respective bearingsand the end portions telescope into sockets 52 provided therefor in therespective inner and outer legs. It will be noticed that the socketsopen inwardly and do not extend through to the exterior surfaces of thelegs. Therefore, the joint is thought of as a concealed andsubstantially weatherproof hinge or joint. in fact, this hinge is soaccurately made and installed that it is virtually frictionles andpermits the legs of the respective frames to open and close withprecision and without hindrance. The longer legs 42 present a greatermass than the shorter legs 26 which renders the legs automaticallyfolding when the chair is lifted up as is evident from Fig. 2. By thesame token the lower ends extending beyond the cone sponding lower endsof the legs 26 cause the legs to spread apart automatically when thechair is set down.

The slin 56 has its upper end 58 attached to the upper portion of thefirst frame of one side and its lower portion 50 attached to the sameside of the second frame it the intermediate portion 62 being removed.Thus, the sling serves both as a shoulder strap and flexible handle.

Although basswood is the material generally preferred, its use is notessential, and it will therefore be clear that a suitable grade ofaluminum may, under certain manu facturing requirements, be used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable and collapsible multipurpose chair for generalout-of-doors and similar occasional use comprising a first frame havinga backrest and paired legs, a second frame having paired legs with theirintermediate portions overlapping and crossing the intermediate portionsof said first mentioned legs with the latter legs serving as inner legsand the second mentioned legs serving as outer legs, said outer legsbeing longer than said inner legs, the opposed inward surfaces of eachinner and outer leg having aligned contacting Washers mounted thereonand providing axial bearings, and a journal pin bridging said washersand mounted in said bearings and providing a substantially frictionlesshinge for said legs, said last named inner and outer legs havinginwardly opening sockets aligned with each other and said bearings, saidjournal pin comprising a hollow smooth-surfaced cvlinder, the ends ofwhich are fitted telescopically into their respective sockets, andwashers sewing also as spacers so that said legs are disposed in spacedparallelism and so that freedom of action between the respective partsis assured and constantly maintained, and a flexible stretchless canvassling having its upper end attached to an upper corner portion of thefirst frame and its lower end likewise attached to an upper cornerportion of said second frame.

2. A portable folding chair for out-of-doors use comprising a firstrelatively long generally rectangularly frame embodying a pair ofopposed spaced parallel longitudinal rails connected together at theirupper ends by an upper cross-plece fastened to said upper ends, asimilar crosspiece mterposed between and ri idly connecting the lowerend portions of said rails, a third cross-piece extending between andfastened to the median portions of said ra1ls, a canvas panel mounted onthe, upper portions of said rails and ranging between the uppercross-piece and said third named cross-piece and defining a backrest, asecond rectangular frame cooperating with said first named frame andshorter than the first named frame and embodymg a pair of spacedparallel longitudinal side rails connected at their upper and lower endsby transverse crossbraces, the lower end portions of said first namedrails providing a first pair of legs, the rails of the second framecrossing the exterior surfaces of the median portions of the first namedrails and portions providing a second pair of legs, the legs in saidsecond pair being of a length greater than the legs in said first namedpair, the opposed inward surfaces of each inner and outer leg havingaligned sockets opening through said inner surfaces, the outer ends ofthe respective sockets being completely closed, contacting washersmounted on the respective inward surfaces of each inner and outer legand having their central open portions aligned with the respectivesockets and providing axially aligned bearings, and a smoothsurfacejournal pin bridging the openings in the respective washers and havingend portions projecting into the respective sockets, a canvas seatattached at one end to the cross-brace at the upper ends of the secondnamed rails, and connected at its opposite end to the cross-piece at theintermediate portion of the first named rails, and a flexiblestretchless sling on one side only of the chair and of a length that itserves as a shoulder strap and having its upper end attached to an uppercorner portion of the first frame and its lower end attached to an uppercorner portion of the second frame.

3. A portable and collapsible multipurpose chair for generalout-of-doors and similar use comprising a first rectangular frame havinga backrest and paired legs, a second frame having paired legs with theirintermediate portions overlapping and crossing the intermediate portionsof said first mentioned legs with the latter legs serving as inner legsand the second mentioned legs serv ing as outer legs, said outer legsbeing longer than said inner legs, the opposed inward surfaces of eachinner and outer leg having aligned contacting washers mounted thereonand providing axial bearings, and a journal pin bridging said washersand mounted in said bearings and providing a substantially frictionlesshinge for said legs, said last named inner and outer legs havinginwardly opening sockets aligned with each other and said bearings, saidjournal pin comprising a smooth-surfaced memher, the ends of which arefitted telescopically into their respective sockets, said washersserving also as spacers so that said legs are disposed in spacedparallelism and so that freedom of action between the respective partsis assured and constantly maintained, and a flexible stretchless narrowsling constituting a shoulder strap and also a hand strap whichfacilitates lifting and lowering the chair, said strap having its upperend attached to the upper end of one of the rails of the first namedframe and having its lower end attached to the upper end of a companionrail of the second named frame whereby when the upper end of the strapis caught hold of ones hand, it may be used to set the chair down, atwhich time the then folded chair unfolds and positions itselfautomatically for use and also serves when lifting the chair up to causethe frames. to. fold into compact relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,776Dieterich Apr. 13, 1869 100,209 Stewart Feb. 22, 1870 102,022 McAleerApr. 19, 1870 126,595 Viele May 7, 1872 249,906 Dann Nov. 22, 1881306,989 Yandell Oct. 21, 1884 841,343 Richolson Jan. 15, 1907 1,874,434Brown Aug. 30, 1932 2,493,646 Schmidt Ian. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS23,692 Austria Apr. 10, 1906 560,649 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1944

